Best tasting instant coffee?.....I listened to...

[nawlunz]

the suggestions from the Spring Backpacker issue. They raved about the Starbuck's Via coffee...I decided to try them. I was not impressed and didn't care for the taste. I know everybody has a certain preference, but I am used to excellent New Orleans coffee and on short trips, I bring the Community coffee bags!! Excellent.

However, I am trying to avoid packing out coffee bags, so I tried the Starbuck's..Not a Starbuck's fan for regular coffee, and the instant coffee (Via) tastes as burned and strong as the regular.

Anybody have luck with other instant coffees they want to share?

[daddytwosticks]

Tried Java Juice. These are packets of coffee concentrate in single-serving size. These are my favorite method of making coffee on a hike. Expensive. There are so many ways of getting coffee on the trail...you just have to experiment. I do use the Starbuck's Via as backup when I can't get the Java Juice.

[10-K]

Likewise, at the huts in the Whites they were selling Java Juice and I wasn't impressed with that either.

So far, Folgers singles are about the best/closest to real coffee that I've found.

[FritztheCat]

I have a one cup coffee steeper I picked up from REI a while back. Works great! I take a ziplock of my favorite coffee grinds, put them in the little container and stir it in a cup of boiling water. I can't do the instant stuff. I know people rave about the Starbucks brand but like the OP, I don't care for any of their coffee.

[budforester]

the suggestions from the Spring Backpacker issue. They raved about the Starbuck's Via coffee...I decided to try them. I was not impressed and didn't care for the taste. I know everybody has a certain preference, but I am used to excellent New Orleans coffee and on short trips, I bring the Community coffee bags!! Excellent.

However, I am trying to avoid packing out coffee bags, so I tried the Starbuck's..Not a Starbuck's fan for regular coffee, and the instant coffee (Via) tastes as burned and strong as the regular.

Anybody have luck with other instant coffees they want to share?

Lots of coffee discussions on WB. I'm packing single serve packets of Taster's Choice 100% Columbian or Nescafe Clasico. (and my taste buds are attuned to Community Dark Roast)


Nawlunz... hmmm... I don't know of any with chickory.

[Hikes in Rain]

I've never found anything better than cowboy coffee. One (or two!) tablespoons of ground coffee (preferably fresh ground) per cup, one more for the pot. Not quite boiling water, five minutes of steeping. Ambrosia.

[Rain Man]

I have some of the Java Juice and it just doesn't impress me. Have tried several varieties and alternatives for coffee on the trail. So far, for a match or balance of ease and quality, I like Nescafe 'Taster's Choice' in the little sleeves. It comes in several varieties. Just fine for my purposes, but then I'm no coffee nut. Usually I'm just as fine with tea or hot chocolate.

RainMan

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[Lemni Skate]

Oh, good gracious! Why don't you hire a porter to hike with a portable coffee bean grinder and a solar powered espresso maker?

You're backpacking, not cruising on the Love Boat!

Just joking, I get pretty picky about certain things out there, too.

[Hikes in Rain]

Well, sometimes I do carry a little backpacking coffee grinder. No porter, though.

[Toolshed]

Instant = Nescafe Tubes 2 tubes per 12 oz mug - These have served me well for about 2 years.

Reg'lar = my favorite roast with either a fully packed coughlins 1 cup filter
or
My favorite roast with my MSR mugmate. I started with the coughlinsin the late 80's and the mugmate in the earll-mid-90's. I really like all 3 methods.. I usually just rotate through them, sometimes depending on time of year and such.

[Mrs Baggins]

Java Juice. I don't need my coffee to strip paint, so I can easily get two cups out of one packet. At 50 cents a cup....how is that "expensive"? It's pure percolated coffee condensed. I've tried the "tea" bags, the pods, instant, cowboy coffee......Java Juice beats them all.

[10-K]

Java Juice. I don't need my coffee to strip paint, so I can easily get two cups out of one packet. At 50 cents a cup....how is that "expensive"? It's pure percolated coffee condensed. I've tried the "tea" bags, the pods, instant, cowboy coffee......Java Juice beats them all.

How do you seal the packet between cups?

One of the gripes I have with JJ is that there's no way to get every drop out of the packet and that concentrated coffee stains anything it happens to drip on and it is sticky as all get out too.

[Mrs Baggins]

How do you seal the packet between cups?

One of the gripes I have with JJ is that there's no way to get every drop out of the packet and that concentrated coffee stains anything it happens to drip on and it is sticky as all get out too.

I drink both cups in the same morning. Just carefully stand the packet up against something until I'm ready for the 2nd cup. I just give the packet a good "smoosh" all the way down to get it all out, then I drop it in my zip lock bag that's used for trash. No problem.

[njordan2]

I like the Starbucks Via instant coffee, but I like Starbucks coffee. It is amazing how close via is to fresh brewed. I can not tell the difference.

I guess I should clarify. I have never had a bad cup of coffee. So that gives you some perspective on what level of coffee epicurean I am. For the most part the majority of the coffee I drink comes from an instant coffee machine on the shop floor of a steel forging factory.

Tasters choice in the little foil packs is probably the best if Via is too burnt tasting for you.

With all that said, I never drink coffee while on the trail. I have tried before and I crash so hard a couple hours later that I am done hiking for the day.

[HeartFire]

I have some of the Java Juice and it just doesn't impress me. Have tried several varieties and alternatives for coffee on the trail. So far, for a match or balance of ease and quality, I like Nescafe 'Taster's Choice' in the little sleeves. It comes in several varieties. Just fine for my purposes, but then I'm no coffee nut. Usually I'm just as fine with tea or hot chocolate.

RainMan

.

RainMan,
Where do you get these little packets? I assume they must be cheaper than the Strabucks coffees (which I don't like all that much either)

Judy

[Deadeye]

RainMan,
Where do you get these little packets? I assume they must be cheaper than the Strabucks coffees (which I don't like all that much either)

Judy

http://www.minimus.biz/

has all sorts of personal sized stuff, including coffee packets (which you can get at lots of grocery stores,too)

[Rick500]

I do like Starbucks Via best, but it's expensive. The Nescafe packets are my second choice, and much cheaper.

[Luddite]

I have to agree with Rain Man on the Taster's Choice in the single serving packets. Its not bad and you wouldn't have to pack out soggy coffee bags.

Never tried the Java Juice but it seems like a good idea.

[ken209]

Heartfire wally world has nescafe clasico in the tubes.

[Rain Man]

RainMan, Where do you get these little packets? I assume they must be cheaper than the Strabucks coffees (which I don't like all that much either) Judy

I get them at several local grocery stores: Kroger, Harris-Teeter, Publix. At least, I think all those have the Nescafe "tubes."

RainMan

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